Nearly a week after Jannik Sinner and WADA agreed on a three-month ban related to his doping case, new details have emerged from the player’s lawyer, Jamie Singer, in an interview with the BBC.
Despite initially seeking a ban of 1-2 years, it was WADA that approached Sinner’s team to propose a settlement and persuade him to accept the terms. Although WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an initial ruling that cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, it was evident from the outset that both parties were keen to avoid the hearing, scheduled for April in Lausanne.
This was also the main reason why WADA ultimately offered a three-month ban, despite originally pushing for a much longer suspension.
The decisive moment
Initially rejecting the offer, Sinner’s stance shifted at the beginning of February when negotiations became more concrete. The turning point came on the night of February 14, when discussions between Sinner’s lawyer and WADA intensified, leading to the final decision being made official the following day.
“It all happened unbelievably quickly,” Singer said—a statement that holds true, considering that just days before the settlement was formalized, Jannik Sinner was training in Doha, the site of the prestigious ATP 500, his first tournament since winning the Australian Open.
A strategic compromise
Despite missing four Masters 1000 events during his suspension, it soon became apparent that Sinner emerged as the “winner” (in quotes, as he refrains from calling it a victory, hoping to be acquitted like his colleague Iga Swiatek). He won’t miss any Grand Slams, and his ban will end just a few days before his home tournament, the Italian Open in Rome.
However, Singer revealed that convincing Sinner to accept the agreement was no easy task. “Why would we do that if the first independent tribunal found it was no ban at all, why would I accept three months now?” questioned Sinner in response to his lawyer’s suggestion to ‘settle for three months.’
Singer’s legal perspective
Singer, however, saw a “good opportunity” in the three-month ban: “If we don’t accept their (WADA’s) offer then they will go to court looking for a year and who knows what those three judges could do.”
While eager to return to competition, fight for titles, and defend his number one ranking, the entire case had taken a toll on Sinner, who had been playing with a rod in pickle over his head for the past year. His decision was likely influenced by the prospect of finally putting this ordeal behind him and focusing entirely on his performance.
WADA’s position
As for WADA, general counsel Ross Wenzel told BBC Sport that the case “was a million miles away from doping.” Questioning whether a 12-month suspension would have been a fair outcome, he added: “One year seemed like too strict a punishment, but leaving without sanction was not a good result either.”
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – Imagn Images
